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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Anatomy Donor Appreciation Speech

Having a diffuse time trying to focus during anatomy lab, I started wondering about Roman toilets. In ancient Rome the toilets were arranged so that people could converse; a semi-circle with conversation in the concavity. Those Romans had the right idea – why waste an opportunity?

I and probably most of us were beginning to live in the opportunity of our lifetime: medical school. We were like children excited about picking the color of our scrubs. I chose blue because it enforced the idea that the sky is the limit. Also, I naively believed that I was limitless just as the sky.

Now add four weeks to the above scenario and picture irritable, cranky, sleep-deprived, and coffee-wired individuals. In that light, even a golden opportunity can look bronze.
In that light, one feels like a robot working endless hours.

However, in a brighter light, we were growing as individuals and as a team. We spent hours upon hours with the cadavers. For some, I believe that a small miracle occurred under this light. We dissected deeper into these strangers only to find ourselves. After that, the notion of a golden opportunity faded and the realization of a chosen life path set in.

I believe that you have to enjoy the path of labor more than the fruits of labor. For often, the path is long and the fruits are short-lived. One may believe differently, but statistically I'll be the happier one.

Throughout this course we were guided by dedicated individuals. They set a high bar of expectations and so made us better medical students. However, I assure you that their fruits will not be short-lived.

Regardless of what fruits we achieve, we will always be in debt to these strangers who donated their body. We will be in debt to the donors for the opportunity and experience we acquired due to their generosity; a generosity so great that it surpassed their existence.

About the author:

Sheetal Chowdhary is a candidate for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012 from Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 2008, she was nominated for Student D.O. of the Year. She attended New York Institute of Technology on the T.K. Steele undergraduate scholarship and majored in Life Sciences. Her interests include research, writing, the outdoors, and philosophy.